Sleeve that functions as a washable marking surface

ABSTRACT

Subject matter described in this disclosure is related to a sleeve that provides a marking surface on which to apply a washable marking medium. The sleeve may include a padding member and a marking-instrument holder. The padding member may be used to cushion an arm on which the sleeve is worn when the sleeve is being marked upon.

SUMMARY

This summary provides a high-level overview of the disclosure and of various aspects of the invention and introduces a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed-description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In brief and at a high level, this disclosure describes, among other things, a sleeve that is wearable on an arm to provide a marking surface. Also described is a method of using a washable marking surface, which is comprised of a sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein:

FIGS. 1A-1C depict various sleeves in accordance with aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 2A-2B depict different perspectives of a human arm;

FIG. 3A-3B depict various sleeves in accordance aspects of the invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 depict views from different perspectives of a sleeve positioned on a human arm; and

FIGS. 6A-6C depicts respective functional markings that may be applied to a sleeve in accordance with aspects of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of certain aspects of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to define what is regarded as an invention, which is what the claims do. The claimed subject matter may comprise different elements or combinations of elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various elements herein disclosed unless explicitly stated.

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a sleeve that is wearable on an arm to provide a marking surface, and exemplary sleeves are depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C, 3A-3B, 4, 5, and 6A-6C. For example, in FIGS. 1A-1C, various exemplary sleeves 10 a-10 c are depicted on which a user can write, color, or otherwise mark. For example, a user might write, color, or mark on the sleeve 10 a-10 c using a pen, marker, crayon, pencil, painting utensil, or other marking instrument. In one embodiment, a washable medium is used to mark on the sleeve, such that markings may be washably removed to enable the sleeve to be re-used for subsequent marking. The term washable marking instrument is in this description and refers to a marking instrument that allows a washable medium to be applied to a surface. While marking with a marking instrument is one exemplary method of adding design or marking elements to a sleeve, other methods of design might also be employed, such as by attaching (e.g., sewing, ironing, etc.) various items onto the sleeve, such as buttons, beads, patches, pins, etc.

In a further embodiment, the sleeve is used to record various types of markings. Referring briefly to FIG. 6C, an exemplary generic box 75 is depicted in which a variety of different markings may be applied. For example, by writing on a sleeve a user might memorialize lists (e.g., FIG. 4), calendar entries, contact information (e.g., FIG. 5), directions, personal messages, and various other types of notes (e.g., “BFF” in FIG. 6B). In addition, by writing on a sleeve, a user can add various design elements and features to a sleeve (e.g., FIG. 6B). In one aspect, a user may add his or her personal design elements to a sleeve. For example, a wearer might create freeform designs, draw pictures, doodle, or add any other created design element (e.g., FIG. 6B).

In another aspect, pre-determined designs may be provided on a sleeve to which a user can add color and other markings. Examples of pre-determined designs include shapes, cartoon characters, doodles, letters, games (e.g., FIG. 6A-tic-tac-toe, dots-and-boxes, etc.), words, numbers, or any other category of pre-determined design (e.g., 6C) that can be colored or otherwise used to add design to a sleeve. In a further aspect, a sleeve might comprise pre-determined category headings. For example, a category heading of “grocery list,” “phone number,” or “directions” might be pre-printed on the sleeve in a permanent manner, such that the sleeve is pre-configured to be marked on to include these items of information. In this respect, the sleeve can be constructed to include an organized layout that may assist a user to keep his or her markings organized under specific headings. For example, the headings “grocery list,” “calendar entries,” and “reminders” in FIG. 4 might be a pre-printed heading or a washably written heading added by a sleeve wearer.

Pre-determined information, such as designs (e.g., games, letters, shapes, cartoons, etc.) and category headings (e.g., grocery list, phone numbers, etc.) may be applied to a sleeve using various attachment mechanisms. For example, pre-determined information may be attached to a sleeve using screen printing, pad printing, sonic welding, or other attachment means that are relatively permanent. Alternatively, pre-determined information may be attached using less permanent mechanism. For example, pre-determined information may be printed onto a patch, swatch (or other loose textile piece) that is attached to the sleeve by a releasable means, such as hook-and-loop strips, snaps, button, etc. When less permanent mechanisms are used, the pre-determined information may be switched from one type of information to another type of information. For example, various swatches of textile materials might have respective designs that may be selectively attached to a sleeve. In such an aspect, a tic-tac-toe swatch may be attached to the sleeve at one instant, and the tic-tac-toe swatch may be switched with a cartoon character at a later instant. Moreover, a grocery-list swatch may be attached to a sleeve (e.g., such as when a wearer is going to the grocery store); however, the grocery-list swatch may be replaced by a contact-information swatch (e.g., such as when the wearer is attending a work conference).

Accordingly, a sleeve may be constructed of a variety of materials in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, the sleeve is constructed of a fabric that supports a marking medium (e.g., ink, paint, crayon, etc.) when the medium is applied to the fabric. That is, by supporting a medium, a fabric of the sleeve allows the medium to be applied to the fabric, such that the medium is visible after being applied to the fabric. In addition, a fabric may support a medium by allowing the medium to dry, such that the medium does not wipe off until the sleeve is washed (e.g., in a clothes-washing machine). Accordingly, in a further aspect, the fabric is washable to allow the sleeve to be cleaned and to allow markings to be removed, thereby providing a clean marking surface. Additionally, the sleeve may be a single color or may be multi-colored. For example, the sleeve may be a single color that provides a background color against which a marking medium is viewable. Alternatively, different portions of the sleeve may be comprised of different colors or different patterns. Exemplary fabrics include cotton, polyester, spandex, nylon, elastane, and combinations or blends thereof. This list of fabrics is merely exemplary and various other types of materials may be used to construct the sleeve.

In another aspect of the present invention, the sleeve may fit a range of arm sizes. That is, an exemplary sleeve includes a hollow tubular body that at least partially encloses an interior space (e.g., FIG. 3A), which receives an arm when the sleeve is being worn. As such, in an aspect of the invention, a size of the interior space can be made bigger or smaller to make a sleeve looser or tighter (respectively) and to accommodate a range of arm sizes. As such, a sleeve may include various mechanisms that allow the interior space to be expanded or reduced. For example, the sleeve may be made of a material having elasticity, which enables the material to stretch to increase a size of the interior space. In an embodiment, the sleeve includes a fit that is conducive to providing a writing surface. For example, a sleeve that is too loose may be difficult to mark on if the material does not remain sufficiently taut. As such, the sleeve may provide a fit that is tight enough, when positioned on an arm, to be marked without the material gathering or bunching.

In another embodiment, referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, releasable fasteners 312 and 314 may be used to releasably close a seam 310 or 311 of the sleeve, such that the seam can be modified to increase or decrease the size of the interior space. For example, hook-and-loop strips, snaps, buttons, or other releasable mechanism may be use to releasably close the seam of the sleeve. As such, the releasable fasteners may be attachable at a range of positions to selectively modify a size of the interior space. A seam of the sleeve may be completely open, as depicted in FIG. 3A, such that one or more releasable fasteners are used to hold the seam closed. Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 3B, the seam might be partially closed using a combination of releasable fasteners and stitching 315, or some other mechanism that is more permanent than the releasable fasteners (i.e., only a portion of the seam is stitched). The illustrations of FIGS. 3A and 3B are merely exemplary and while hook-and-loop strips may be depicted, a variety of others releasable fasteners may also be used (e.g., buttons, snaps, clips, etc.).

A sleeve might extend from a part of a shirt (or other upper-body-covering garment), such as a shoulder-covering shirt portion or another part of a shirt sleeve. As such, sleeves extending from a shirt might have various lengths, such as a short sleeve, a midsize sleeve (e.g., three-quarter length sleeve), or a long sleeve. A sleeve may be attached to other portions of a shirt by various attachment techniques. For example, a sleeve may be sewn to a shoulder-covering portion of a shirt, or otherwise affixed in a relatively permanent fashion. Alternatively, a sleeve might be attached to a portion of a shirt by way of a releasable fastener, such as by buttons, snaps, clips (e.g., alligator clips), zippers, etc. For example, the sleeve might break away or zip away from a shoulder portion of a shirt or from another part of a shirt sleeve. Such an embodiment enables a shirt to be converted from a longer-sleeved garment to a shorter-sleeved garment.

Alternatively, a sleeve might be a separate garment that is not attached to any other portion of a shirt or other upper-body-covering garment. In such an aspect, referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, the sleeve 10 a-10 a comprises a hollow tubular body 12 having two generally opposed open terminating ends 14 and 16. A detached sleeve might be constructed to include various sleeve lengths and sizes. For example, referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, 2A, and 2B, a shorter detached sleeve 10 a might only cover a portion of an arm, such as an upper-arm region 210 a and 210 b (e.g., bicep region and triceps region), an elbow region 212 a and 212 b, and a forearm region 214 a and 214 b. Alternatively, a midsize detached sleeve and a long detached sleeve might cover more than one arm region. When a detached sleeve covers more than one arm region, the detached sleeve might cover an upper-arm region and an elbow; a lower-arm region and an elbow; or an upper-arm region, an elbow, and a lower arm region.

In another aspect, a sleeve (attached or detached) might include a hand-covering portion that at least partially fits over a hand, thumb, and/or one or more other fingers 216 a and 216 b. For example, the sleeve 10 c might include a thumb aperture 18, as well as one or more finger apertures, such that when a thumb and fingers are arranged through the respective apertures, the sleeve 10 c at least partially covers the hand. Thumb and finger apertures might be comprised of various structures. For example, thumb and finger apertures might be completely enclosed, such as in a glove. Alternatively, thumb and finger apertures might be at least partially combined, such as the combined compartments of a mitten. In addition, thumb and finger apertures might be only partially enclosed, such that a thumb and one or more fingers are exposed and are only partially covered by the hand-covering portion. Moreover, thumb and finger cutouts might only include a cutout or slot through which a respective digit extends, such that the thumb and fingers are not covered.

Respective apertures might be created using various techniques. For example, FIG. 1C depicts that the textile of the sleeve might be cutout to create a thumb aperture, and as such, a similar technique might be used to create finger apertures. However, additional textile might be added to the sleeve to create respective apertures. For example, FIGS. 4, 5, and 6A-6C depict that thread members 20-23 have been added to create a thumb aperture and multiple finger apertures. The thread member 20 may engage a button 24, such that the thread member is releasable. Such a releasable feature enables the sleeve to be easily moved or rolled up, such as when a wearer needs to use his or her hand without the hand-covering portion (e.g., to wash the hand). Although button 24 is depicted in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 a-6C, a variety of different releasable fasteners may also be used, such as snaps, hook-and-loop strips, etc.

In another aspect, the thread member 20-23 (or other textile that is used to create separate thumb and finger apertures) might alternatively be stitched on both ends, such that the thread member is not releasable. Although FIGS. 4, 5, and 6A-6C illustratively depict a thread member, any similar mechanism might be used, such as a fabric strip. For example, the hand-covering portion might include a glove in which the fingers and thumb are either partially cutoff or are not cutoff.

In another aspect, a hand-covering portion might be designed to fit either a right hand or a left hand. That is, apertures that are constructed into the hand-covering portion might be universal, such that the apertures could fit a thumb and fingers of a left hand and could also fit a thumb and fingers of a right hand. Alternatively, the hand-covering portion might be hand specific, such that the apertures are designed to fit the thumb and fingers of a right hand, but not a left hand (and vice versa).

A sleeve might be described in relation to an anatomy of an arm or hand. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the sleeve 10 g may include a forearm-flexor-covering portion 30. Moreover, referring to FIG. 4, the sleeve 10 f may include a forearm-extensor-covering portion 32. In addition, when a sleeve includes a hand-covering portion, the sleeve might include a palm-side portion 34 and a back-hand-side portion 36. In one aspect, a palm-side portion 34 may be generally aligned with a forearm-flexor-covering portion 30 and a back-hand-side portion 36 may be generally aligned with a forearm-extensor-covering portion 32.

In a further embodiment, a sleeve may include a padding member 40 that protects, and provides comfort to, a wearer's arm. For example, when a sleeve is being marked on by the wearer or by another party, it might be desirable for the wearer to rest his or her arm on a surface. As such, a padding member 40 may provide comfort to the wearer when the arm is resting on the surface and pressure is being applied against the sleeve (and consequently against the arm) in order to mark on the sleeve. FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary aspect in which the padding member may be positioned along a forearm-flexor-covering portion 30.

The padding member 40 might be constructed in various manners. For example, the padding member might be comprised of different materials, such as foam, polyester fiberfill, or any other cushion-providing material. Moreover, the padding member 40 might be constructed into an inside portion of the sleeve or an outside portion of the sleeve. That is, an exemplary sleeve includes an inner-facing surface 42 (FIG. 4) and an outer-facing surface 44 (FIG. 5). As such, the padding member might be attached to the inner-facing surface, to the outer-facing surface, or in between the inner-facing surface and the outer-facing surface. In a further embodiment, the padding member is washable, such that the padding member can be repeatedly washed without losing its integrity as a cushion provider and without otherwise becoming not usable (e.g., growing mold or fungus).

In another aspect, a sleeve may include a marking-instrument holder that is designed to secure a marking instrument (e.g., marker, crayon, pen, etc.). For example, a pocket 60 is depicted in FIG. 1C that is storing a marking instrument 61. As another exemplary depiction, FIG. 5 depicts a pocket 50 that stores a marking instrument 51. Although FIGS. 1C and 5 depict respective pockets that store marking instruments, a marking-instrument holder might include a variety of structures, such as an elastic loop, a hook-and-loop strip, pocket, etc.

In a further aspect, a marking-instrument holder that is comprised of a pocket (e.g., 50 in FIG. 5) might also include a releasable fastener 52 that allows the pocket to be selectively opened and closed. For example, a releasable fastener for a pocket might include a snap, a button, a zipper, hook-and-loop strips, etc. A marking-instrument holder might be arranged at different positions on a sleeve. For example, the marking-instrument holder might be arranged on the inside of the sleeve, such that the marking-instrument holder is hidden from view. Or, the marking-instrument holder might be arranged on the outside of the sleeve, such as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. Moreover, a marking-instrument holder might be sewn into a seam of the sleeve.

In an aspect of the present invention, a sleeve that functions as a washable marking surface, such as the sleeve depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, and 6A-6C, may be used in various manners. When describing a method of using a sleeve, reference is also made to the various figures described above. In an exemplary method, the sleeve 10 a-10 g may be worn on a forearm 214 a and 214 b, which includes an extensor side 220 and a flexor side 222. As such, the sleeve 10 a-10 g may be comprised of a hollow tubular body that receives the forearm. Moreover, the sleeve might be comprised of a padding member 40 and a marking-instrument holder (e.g., 50). In one aspect of an exemplary method, the padding member 40 is positioned along the flexor side 222 of the forearm. Moreover, a washable marking instrument (e.g., 51) is stored in the marking-instrument holder and is used to mark on a portion of the hollow tubular member.

An exemplary method might include further aspects as well. For example, the portion of the hollow tubular body that is marked may include a colorable pattern, such that marking on the hollow tubular body includes coloring the colorable pattern. In another aspect, the portion of the hollow tubular body that is marked is positioned along the extensor side 220 of the forearm, such that the padding member cushions the forearm against a surface that supports the forearm when the marking is executed.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of our technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. 

1. A sleeve that is wearable on an arm to provide a marking surface, the sleeve comprising: a hollow tubular body comprised of an open terminating end; a padding member coupled to the hollow tubular body; and a marking-instrument holder that is coupled to the hollow tubular body and that stores a marking instrument, which is usable to write on the sleeve.
 2. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the tubular body at least partially encloses an interior space that receives the arm and wherein the hollow tubular body is comprised of a releasable fastener that is attachable at a range of positions to modify a size of the interior space.
 3. The sleeve of claim 2, wherein the releasable fastener is comprised of hook-and-loop strips, snaps, buttons, or a combination thereof.
 4. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the open terminating end comprises one or more finger apertures and a thumb aperture, such that the hollow tubular body includes a palm-side region and a back-hand-side region, and wherein the palm-side is generally aligned with a forearm-flexor-covering portion of the hollow tubular body.
 5. The sleeve of claim 4, wherein the padding member is positioned along the forearm-flexor-covering portion.
 6. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the marking-instrument holder comprises a pocket.
 7. The sleeve of claim 6, wherein the pocket comprises a releasable fastener.
 8. The sleeve of claim 6, wherein the releasable fastener comprises a zipper.
 9. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein an outer-facing surface of the hollow tubular body includes a colorable pattern.
 10. The sleeve of claim 9, wherein the padding member is positioned on a first side of the hollow tubular member and wherein the colorable pattern is positioned opposite to the first side.
 11. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular body is attached to an upper-body-covering garment.
 12. The sleeve of claim 1, wherein the hollow tubular body comprises another open terminating end, such that the hollow tubular body is detached from an upper-body-covering garment.
 13. A method of using a washable marking surface, the method comprising: wearing a sleeve on a forearm, which includes a extensor side and a flexor side, wherein the sleeve comprises: (A) a hollow tubular body, (B) a padding member coupled to the hollow tubular body, and (C) a marking-instrument holder that stores a marking instrument and that is coupled to the hollow tubular body; positioning the padding member along the flexor side of the forearm; storing a washable marking instrument in the marking-instrument holder; and marking on a portion of the hollow tubular body with the washable marking instrument.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the hollow tubular body includes a colorable pattern and wherein marking on the hollow tubular body includes coloring the colorable pattern.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the portion of the hollow tubular body is positioned along the extensor side of the forearm, such that the padding member cushions the forearm against a surface that supports the forearm when the marking is executed.
 16. A sleeve that is wearable on an arm to provide a marking surface, the sleeve comprising: a hollow tubular body comprised of a first open terminating end and a second open terminating end, wherein the hollow tubular body includes an inner-facing surface and an outer-facing surface; at least one finger aperture and a thumb aperture, such that the tubular body includes a palm-side region and a back-hand-side region, wherein the palm-side region defines at least part of a first side of the hollow tubular body and the back-hand-side region defines at least part of a second side of the hollow-tubular body; a padding member positioned along the first side between the inner-facing surface and the outer-facing surface; and a writing-instrument holder that secures a writing instrument to the hollow tubular body.
 17. The sleeve of claim 16, wherein the tubular body at least partially encloses an interior space that receives the arm and wherein the hollow tubular body is comprised of a releasable fastener that is attachable at a range of positions to modify a size of the interior space.
 18. The sleeve of claim 16, wherein the at least one finger aperture and the thumb aperture are arranged to fit a right hand and a left hand.
 19. The sleeve of claim 16, wherein the outer-facing surface includes a colorable pattern.
 20. The sleeve of claim 19, wherein the colorable pattern is positioned on the second side of the hollow-tubular body, such that the colorable pattern is positioned opposite the padding member. 